Fastening fob



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. g

BICI-IARD SOLIS,

OF NEWv BRUNSWICK, NEW JERSEY.

'Specication of Letters Patent No. 31,750, dated March y19, 1861.

To all whom it may concern.' l

Be it known that I, RICHARD SoLIs, of New Brunswick, in the county of Middlesex and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Fastening for Shoes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1, is a side View of a gaiter boot with my improved fastening applied to the side of it. Fig. 2, represents the metal stays pivoted together at their lower ends. Fig. 3, is an enlarged transverse sectional view through the catch and Astays as seen when the partsY are fastened.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts inthe three figures.

This invention is intended to form a simple and ready means for fastening and un fastening' boots or shoes. It refers more especially to gaiter boots which are usually laced or buttoned and it is intended to supply the place of lacing or buttons either at the sides or at the front of gaiters.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

A, Fig. l, represents ai'common gaiter boot to which my improved fastening is applied. In this boot A, the opening to allow it to be put on and taken of? the foot, is made in the side, but it will be understood by the following description that my invention is applicable to boots which have the opening in front instead of at the side.

The boot is made in the usual manner, but before sewing together the lining and outer cloth, or leather, of the edges a, a, metal strips b b', such as are represented in Fig. 2, are stitched up along each edge. The strip 7)', which is the widest is stitched in the back edge a', of the shoe between the outer and inner materials, and the narrow strip I), is stitched in the same manner between the front edge a. These strips should be elastic and pretty stiif The strip b is simply a thin straight piece of steel with a small perforation through one end-its lower end-while the strip b, is somewhat wider than b, and besides the perforation through its lower end this strip b', has a lip o', projecting from its back edge at its upper` end which lip has a number of perforations through it as shown in Fig. 2. These two strips b, b, are about the same length, z'. e. the length of the edges or openings `made in the boot. They are each sewed intoV the boot as before described when they are separated, after which they are connected together at their lower ends by a pivot point which consists of a small stud or button (Z, the neck of which is passed through the holes: in the lower ends of the strips Z2, b, and a split ring e, is passed through the eye which is in the -end of the neck of the stud (Z. This forms a neat and simple connection, and a pivot point to allow the edges a, a', of the boot to be opened sufficiently wide to put on or take off the boot.

On the back edge. a, and near the top of the boot outside a spring latch g, is securely sewed by stitching through the perforations in the portion o, of the strip and opposite to this latch a catch boX g', is stitched at the top of the edge a, which together with the latch spring g, forms a common bracelet fastening which will connect the edges a, o, together and form a simple and secure fastening which may be-fastened and unfastened with readiness and which may be made so that it will be an ornament to theboot.

From this description it will be seen that the strips b, Z9', may while separated be sewed into the edges of the shoe with facility after which they may be pivoted together with the button and split ring in a secure manner. The stiffness of the strips b, b, will keep the edges of the shoe together when fastened at the top, at the same time be sufficiently elastic to prevent injury to the ankle. The strips Z), b, willallow the edges a, a, to lap sufliciently to require no inside tongue, and the whole will form a neat, comfortable and durable fastening which will require little time to fasten or unfasten.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The gaiter .fastening composed of the piv` oted plates b, o and spring catch g, y', when constructed, applied and operating together and with the gaiter A, in the manner as herein shown and described.

RICHARD SULIS. Witnesses:

JAMES A. OvINGToN, ALBEN S. KLINT. 

